Manufacturing mezzanine floor case study 2

Manufacturing in London is hard enough at the best of times, however our clients leased 10,000 square foot industrial unit was due for rent review and things were about to get worse.

The prime location of the site had started to attract retail businesses and the landlords were becoming aware that they could achieve much higher rents, but a doubling of our clients rent had not been anticipated.

Naturally they immediately started looking for alternative sites, possibly less central but still able to be reached by their loyal staff.

Eventually a well located two storey 5,000 square foot freehold unit was found, originally part of a Victorian paper factory, which was ideal except for its size. The solution was to closely examine the clients operation and the building and see where extra space and efficiencies could be achieved.

The sale of the clients American subsidiary helped, as did the long narrow shape of the new unit and its ‘northern lights’ roof – a typical saw tooth shaped roof fully glazed to the northern elevation, with conveniently shaped steel trusses.

Llonsson Ltd was invited to examine the building and come up with ideas how to use the space. The installation of two integrated mezzanine floors was proposed to make use of the first floor roof space and remove ancillary functions such as design office, canteen space and lightweight storage to these new areas. This released first floor space for primary administrative offices and assembly areas, and ground floor space for a third mezzanine floor and storage racking.

Once the design had been agreed, in addition to providing the mezzanine flooring, Llonsson was commissioned to manage the whole refurbishment project, gutting the building back to its original four walls, recladding the roof, completing the three mezzanine floors and fitting them with fire protection, three new spiral staircases and all associated works.

The site has the benefit of a riverside location, a small rear terrace and roof garden with a westerly view overlooking the river. It’s hard to get our client to leave this unit at the end of the day. We know we’ve got it right when our clients tell us that they’d like to live in the unit that we’ve refurbished.